Interior Secretary Jewell Puts Forward Conservation Agenda

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Contact:

Virginia Cramer, 804-225-9113 x 102

Interior Secretary Jewell Puts Forward Conservation Agenda

Washington, D.C.-- Department of Interior Secretary Jewell today outlined the Obama administration's conservation agenda at an event in Washington, DC. It was Sec. Jewell's first major conservation speech since her appointment.

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune issued the following statement.

"The Sierra Club applauds Secretary Jewell for recognizing the value of our nation's public lands and the importance of saving and expanding our wild legacy for future generations to enjoy. We share her vision of strengthening Americans' connection with the outdoors and bolstering our economy through healthy lands and waters.

"We're excited about the Secretary's plans to expand youth outdoor education and engage youth, particularly urban youth, with the outdoors. We look forward to working with the Obama administration to create outdoor opportunities so that everyone can experience the wonder of our public lands no matter where they live.

"As the Secretary noted, the recent government shutdown demonstrated just how important our public lands are to the American people. With Congress in gridlock, we’re glad to hear that the Obama administration is willing to continue our conservation legacy and designate new national monuments. The administration's support for funding to keep our public lands open and its continued commitment to protecting places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from destructive drilling gives us hope for our nation’s outdoor legacy. "

###

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.1 million members and supporters nationwide. In addition to creating opportunities for people of all ages, levels and locations to have meaningful outdoor experiences, the Sierra Club works to safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org.